Literature Reviews

An annotated bibliography is a list of citations such as books, articles, and documents (a bibliography) with a brief summary and/or evaluation (annotation) for each citation. The purpose of the annotation is to inform the reader of the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the sources cited. Unlike other types of reviews, annotated bibliographies do not have established standards. Your bibliography will be guided primarily by its purpose and instructor guidelines (for class assignments).

What to Cover in an Annotation

• Main focus, purpose, or claim of the work
• The usefulness of the citation to your research topic or goal
• The reliability, trustworthiness, and quality of the source

The Process

Creating an annotated bibliography involves a concise background explanation, succinct analysis, and informed research.

1. Search and collect relevant citations
   1. See the Library Research FAQ for help finding searching for resources
2. Examine and review the works
3. Choose works relevant to your research goal and topic
   1. You should include articles that support a variety of viewpoints and address disagreements and controversies around a research topic
4. Cite the works using an appropriate citation style
   1. See the Academic Writing Resources Guide for help on how to cite your sources
5. Write a brief annotation for each citation

Adapted from Research & Learning Services, Olin Library, Cornell University Library, Ithaca, NY, USA
http://guides.library.cornell.edu/annotatedbibliography